What is the most helpful addition to or innovation in Family Origins over the years? Although I'm a relative newcomer (ver. 6) and can't speak to the earlier versions, I would nominate being able to open two data bases side by side as the most helpful, everything is right there in front of you. For me, drag and drop runs a distant second, primarily because it isn't "drag and drop and go" - you have to drag and drop and then link the person(s) also. To me, a true drag and drop would include linking the person as whatever relationship it is dropped into - father, mother, child, parent. I would like to hear other opinions, I'm just smart enough to know I don't know nearly enough about what this program can do, and there are probably many terriffic functions I'm completely oblivious to. Earl B. Akers, Sr. Puyallup WA <A HREF="http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~banyantree">The Banyan Tree</A>

I think that first I would put the multiple window improvement, but then the drag and drop is super. I prefer having to merge them, altho, if you drag just one individual, you can check the box to have it merged upon transfer. By merging myself, I get a last chance to make sure that all the information from both is being retained. I get the merge window where I can edit each individual. Saves some preliminary time even tho I try to standardize both sides before d&d. Keith Thompson [email protected] wrote: > > What is the most helpful addition to or innovation in Family Origins over the > years? > > Although I'm a relative newcomer (ver. 6) and can't speak to the earlier > versions, I would nominate being able to open two data bases side by side as > the most helpful, everything is right there in front of you. > > For me, drag and drop runs a distant second, primarily because it isn't "drag > and drop and go" - you have to drag and drop and then link the person(s) > also. To me, a true drag and drop would include linking the person as > whatever relationship it is dropped into - father, mother, child, parent. > > I would like to hear other opinions, I'm just smart enough to know I don't > know nearly enough about what this program can do, and there are probably > many terriffic functions I'm completely oblivious to. > > Earl B. Akers, Sr. > Puyallup WA > <A HREF="http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~banyantree">The Banyan Tree</A> > > ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== > My very basic Windows beginners help: http://freepages.computers.rootsweb.com/~adelr/index.htm > basic HTML: http://freepages.computers.rootsweb.com/~pasher/ -- Keith Thompson, Worthington, OH Home Web Page: http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~kthompson/ Genealogy Web Page: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kthompson Originality is undetected plagiarism.

Multiple indented descendant reports with pictures and multiple scrapbooks in the FO 10 Journal with the option to save as PDF is my favorite feature. My files change too often to edit every sentence in RTF reports. One database for each potential family book allows corrections and additions over time. Sometimes open two different genealogy programs but haven't worked with multiple copies of FO or any other program. FO displays reports quickly so the spacing of notes can be checked frequently during data entry. I'm planning to make a new GEDCOM without facts to try a Family Origins book with all available pictures and source documents with each of my great-grandmother's siblings starting a "chapter." Each household needs at least two scrapbooks because of a mix of very wide and very tall source documents. The goal is to display sample family books with pictures printed directly from several genealogy programs at the local October conference. Data entry, spacing and order of notes is best planned for the specific program used to print reports, books or charts. Elizabeth, customer FO 5 and 10 ----- Original Message ----- > What is the most helpful addition to or innovation in Family Origins over the > years? > Earl B. Akers, Sr.

The feature I like and use the most is the ability to print reports and pedigree charts to pdf files. This is the way I share most genealogical material. The source manager was improved tremendously about version 6 and has been further revised since that time.. To me the ability to add sources for each fact event in proper bibliographical style is important. I also like the improved merge features. I rarely use the side by side comparison of databases, although it is a nice feature. I have never used the drag and drop feature as I almost always retype information I find from another database. Margaret Scheffler ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, August 05, 2002 11:18 AM Subject: [FO] Innovations in Family Origins > What is the most helpful addition to or innovation in Family Origins over the years? > > Although I'm a relative newcomer (ver. 6) and can't speak to the earlier > versions, I would nominate being able to open two data bases side by side as the most helpful, everything is right there in front of you....

Lots of features, I have been with this since v2, and now v10. I like being able to transport books to Word Processing, adding pictures and reformatting the Sources and Information in the body of the book. Merging people has been great to use, and gotten better with each version. Editing the place names, and the many, many notes and sources that you can add to individuals. The to do list, has saved me time at Libraries and on research trips. The ease of use and well set up so you do not have to fumble to get through the many options that are available. Either the family view or the Tree menu has been helpful in comparing databases. Of the five software packages that I have critiqued for programs on what to buy. Family Origins always wins out with the ease of use and easy learning curve. Bruce you have done a great job. Annette DeCourcy Towler Home page for DeCourcy & Pack http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~decourcy/ Web page for St. Cloud Area Genealogists, Inc. http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnscag/SCAG/index.htm Family Researching in SE KY PACK, CHANDLER, WHEELER, FAIRCHILD, RAMEY, MILLER/MILAM/MILLAM, JAYNE, McSPADDEN Researching in NE KY DeCOURCY, ELLIS, BALL, MAINS, LEWIS, EVANS, SPILMAN, HUTCHINS, HAMILTON Researching in PA, IL WESSLING, SOMERS, SCHULER, PLAGGEE ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, August 05, 2002 11:18 AM Subject: [FO] Innovations in Family Origins > What is the most helpful addition to or innovation in Family Origins over the years? > > Although I'm a relative newcomer (ver. 6) and can't speak to the earlier > versions, I would nominate being able to open two data bases side by side as the most helpful, everything is right there in front of you.... ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== GETTING THE MOST OUT OF FAMILY ORIGINS by Bruce Buzbee - FO DEMO http://formalsoft.com NO WEB ACCESS? Write to [email protected] for ordering information.